Cuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park
Though a short distance from the urban areas of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park seems worlds away. The park is a refuge for native plants and wildlife, and provides routes of discov...
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 6m
Distance
164.9 mi
265 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jeffersonville, OH
Eyes2Soul Eyes2Soul
Jeffersonville to Akron is 164.9 miles and takes about 3 hours 6 minutes via I 71 and I 76, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Ohio, traversing the Midwest region. It's primarily a highway-focused drive, making it a straightforward option for a single-day journey. With a relatively short duration and manageable distance, this route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
82.5 miles from Jeffersonville, OH
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 6m. Total distance: 164.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Expect a highway-focused drive on this route, with 96% of your journey on interstates like I 71 and I 76. The longest stretch without a major change will be a significant 137.9 miles on I 71. This means you'll experience a consistent pace for most of the drive, with the Innerbelt serving as a connector towards the end. It's the kind of drive where you can settle in and maintain a steady speed.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 71 and I 76. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 164.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 39.6 miles (I 71): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 141 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the ramp toward I 71 North: Columbus
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71 toward I 71 North: Cleveland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 76, US 224: Lodi, Akron
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76, US 224 East: Akron
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 59 / Innerbelt toward SR 59 East: Downtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Jeffersonville, OH to Akron, OH, road signs begin pointing toward Wheeling along the way.
Wheeling
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 71 | 137.9 mi | 2h 31m |
| I 76 | 18.4 mi | 22m |
| Innerbelt | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Kenmore Expressway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| South Innerbelt | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| State Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| West Bowery Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Jeffersonville, OH and Akron, OH.
Start on this road
Turn left onto SR 734
Turn right onto SR 41; SR 729; SR 734
Continue on SR 41; SR 729; SR 734
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 71
Take the exit onto I 71
Merge onto I 70; I 71
Keep slight right at fork onto I 71
Keep slight left at fork onto I 71
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 76; US 224
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 59
Continue on SR 59
Turn right onto West Center Street
Turn left onto West Bowery Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 3-hour drive time, leaving Jeffersonville any time in the morning should get you to Akron with plenty of daylight to spare. You'll be on the highway for most of the trip, so plan for one stop if needed for gas or a quick break, especially since the longest uninterrupted stretch is 137.9 miles. With a fuel cost estimated at $26, it’s an economical trip. Keep an eye on traffic as you approach Akron, as the Innerbelt can get busy during peak hours.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 36 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.5 miles or 1h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Akron, OH than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Jeffersonville, OH so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Jeffersonville, OH
This is one driving day of about 164.9 miles and 3h 6m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 82.5 mi from Jeffersonville, OH · 1h 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 82.5 miles from Jeffersonville, OH, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 71 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 137.9 miles.
The final approach into Akron, OH usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Akron, OH.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Park
Though a short distance from the urban areas of Cleveland and Akron, Cuyahoga Valley National Park seems worlds away. The park is a refuge for native plants and wildlife, and provides routes of discov...
National Monument
Throughout his life, Charles Young overcame countless obstacles in his ascent to prominence. In spite of overt racism and stifling inequality, Young rose through the military ranks to become one of th...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$25.59 one way
$51.18 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.38 | $28.40 | $56.81 |
| premium | $4.91 | $31.87 | $63.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.41 | $72.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.5 | 0 | $17.31 | $7.92 |
| Efficient EV | 41.2 | 0 | $14.43 | $6.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 66 | 0 | $23.09 | $10.55 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Jeffersonville on Friday
Local time
3:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Akron on Friday
Local time
3:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
68°F
Mansfield, OH
82 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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